The Short 330 started under the designation SD3-30 as a development
of the SC.7 Skyvan. It used the same rectangular fuselage section,
lengthened by 12 ft 5 in, and wing and other parts of the Skyvan. The
330 is a 30-seat (hence the 30 in the original SD3-30 designation)
transport for short- and medium range distances, and one of the first
to make use of the Civil Aeronautics Board deregulation for regional
and commuter air services (up to 30 passengers and a maximum load of
7,500 lb).
The first prototype flew on August 22, 1974, the first production
aircraft flew December 15, 1975, starting revenue services on August
24, 1976 with Time Air of Canada. The freighter version is known as
the 330C, while the 330 Combi can seat 18 passengers and carry an
additional load of 2,200 lb, or be converted to all-freight
configuration. The 330-UTT (Utility Tactical Transport) is a
freighter version with strengthened floor and an increased maximum
take off weight.
The USAF ordered 18 of the 330-UTT and used it as the European
Distribution System Aircraft (EDSA) under the designation of C-23A
Sherpa. When the EDSA program ended on October 1991, the C-23As
were distributed over the USAF flight Test Center, US Army and US
Forestry Services. Later Sherpa additions to the US military services
received the designations C-23B and C-23C. At least one US Army
Sherpa was converted for electronic warfare (JC-23A) and used in the
Gulf war.
A total of 179 Short 330 were built. The 330 was developed into the
360, differing primarily in having a 3 ft cabin insertion ahead of
the wing and a complete redesigned tail section, replacing the twin
tail with a conventional one. The seating capacity of this short-haul
airliner was increased to 36. Its prototype (G-ROOM) was first flown
on June 1, 1981, scheduled services began December 1, 1982 with
Suburban Airlines in the USA. Total delivered: 164